The Hottest NBA Trade Rumors provided daily

Category Archives: Knicks

Carmelo Anthony won’t complain if Mike D’Antoni returns to coach the Knicks next season. Then again, Melo wouldn’t mind if he had a new coach, either.
Less
than 24 hours after the Knicks were swept out of the playoffs by the
Celtics, Anthony was noncommittal when discussing D’Antoni’s future.
Following an exit interview with D’Antoni and team president Donnie Walsh Monday in Greenburgh, Anthony said D’Antoni had earned his "respect."

The Knicks start their offseason Monday with only four people who are locks to return next season:

Jim Dolan, the silent owner and resident contrarian of the Garden.

Isiah Thomas, Dolan’s consigliere living in exile in Miami.

Carmelo Anthony, the great scorer who couldn’t shoot the Knicks past Boston Sunday.

Amar’e Stoudemire, who couldn’t find the basket nearly enough in the Knicks’ 101-89 loss in Game 4.

Donnie Walsh
wants to come back as team president, but isn’t going to be surprised
if Dolan doesn’t pick up the option on his deal. Dolan should have done
that weeks before the Knicks were swept out of the playoffs at the
Garden. But why do the right thing, especially when everyone is telling
you it makes perfect sense?

Chauncey Billups is anxious to experience being part of the Knicks — and seeing what they can do — for a full season.
Billups, who missed the final three-plus games of the Celtics series
with a strained tendon in his left knee, said yesterday he hopes the
Knicks pick up his $14 million option for next season. The veteran point
guard also declared his 34-year-old body is still in superb condition.
"Yeah, sure," Billups said when asked if he wanted to be back. "I
would love the opportunity to really try it up with these guys and not,
like, play 30 games after a trade. Like, really have a season. Have an
opportunity to really get a fair shake with these guys. I would love
to."

Amar’e Stoudemire isn’t only focused on the first round of the playoffs. Making the Finals is on his radar, too.

Perhaps tired of the Celtics talking more about reaching The Finals than beating the Knicks in the first round, Stoudemire traveled the same road yesterday after practice.

"Our main goal is to get to The Finals," Stoudemire said. "That’s our main goal. But we’ve got to win. We’ve got to go out to Boston and get a win. Last year [in Phoenix] we made it to the Western Conference finals. We’ve got to keep guys motivated, keep guys focused and understand we have a great shot at doing something special. It’s a matter of bringing our smarts, determination and dedication to the game every night."

Amar’e Stoudemire’s appearance on the bench in a gray suit in Newark on
Friday night was alarming enough. Then there was the fashion accessory
that no player wants to be wearing at this time of the season, the
matching gray boot he sported on his injured left leg.

"It’s for protection, to keep myself from moving the ankle," the Knicks’
power forward said. "It feels a lot better than it looks."

Stoudemire contends he will be 100% by the Knicks’ playoff opener
against Miami or Boston, "no question about it." But whether they’ll be
playing at maximum capability in their first playoff action since 2004
is now the major issue, with the opener only six or seven days away.

– Mike D’Antoni hasn’t yet decided on whether Wilson Chandler will start
Wednesday’s season opener for the Knicks at shooting guard, but there
have been preliminary discussions between Chandler and the team about a
potential contract extension, The Post has learned.

"There’s been positive dialogue," Chandler’s agent, Chris Luchey, told The Post. "I wouldn’t be surprised if he is extended."

It seems more and more likely Carmelo Anthony will not sign a contract
extension with the Nuggets, which likely will force the team to trade
him, perhaps to the Knicks.

ESPN.com reported last night that Anthony is "going to make it real
clear that he’s not coming back" to Denver, according to an NBA source.

"Both Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke and Anthony already are well aware that
they don’t have a future together, sources say. That became clear to
Kroenke at a reception after Anthony’s July 11 (wedding) to La La
Vasquez in Manhattan," the report says.

Not only does Carmelo Anthony apparently have his heart set on playing
in New York, but a close confidant of the NBA superstar told The Post
yesterday that he is a better fit for the Big Apple than LeBron James.

"Nothing would bother him," the confidant said of Anthony playing here.
"The media wouldn’t bother him because he really likes people. The
pressure wouldn’t bother him because he loves to have the game in his
hands. Nothing bothers him."

The Knicks’ controversial attempt to hire Isiah Thomas as a consultant
hasn’t dissuaded candidates from pitching themselves as the right man
for a job that team president Donnie Walsh has left vacant since he was
hired two years ago — a day-to-day GM who eventually would succeed him.
The latest twist, according to sources familiar with the situation, has
potential candidates angling to present themselves to Walsh and Garden
chairman James Dolan as the man who is capable of delivering Carmelo
Anthony as a free agent next summer.